Need-to-see nyc stores???

Hello there all. I have searched the archives for a bit looking for the must-see stores in NYC. I wrote some places down that I'll be hitting up this weekend. Â Honestly...I will mostly be doing more looking (I spent too much in Spain this summer) in hopes of putting what I've read/heard on these forums to practice. (I want to see what all the ranting/raving is about all the labels mentioned.) So far I have Barney's (a must), Century 21, and Bergdork. Maybe Saks. Â I was wondering if anyone in the area could add their 3 cents-worth maybe help me out, and perhaps mention a few (this is new to me) "sample sales" (whatever those are?) in the area. The trip is more of a see-what's-out-there type of thing, maybe in hopes of finding a couple things here and there I really like. No crazy shopping yet. Â =] I would really appreciate it. p.s. oh yeah I wouldnt mind venturing into a couple thrift/consignment shops either.

High end but great:
-Jeffrey (Meatpacking District W. 14 btw-9and10) Dior, Dsquared, Bottega, Neil Barrett, Jil Sander, YSL, Gucci, great shoe section...
-Bagutta Life (on Wooster in SoHo) Dior, Prada, Dolce, new location that's very nice
-Gotta go to Barney's, Bergdorff, and a like Saks in NYC as well

I will try and go beyond the usual Saks, Barneys, stores that anyone could easily find.

Regular shops:

Loftworks on Lafayette St downtown - Similar to a Century 21 without the crowds and a nice people.
Scoop 3rd avenue - Varvatos, Seven....upscale casual.

Consignment/Thrift shops:

1) A Second Chance on the Upper East Side
2) Gentleman's Resale - also on the Upper East Side
3) INA on Mott St (downtown)....(when I was there they said they get plenty of overstock from models, fashion people) Gucci, prada and all in excellent almost new shape.

When will you be in NYC? I attend almost every single sample sale in town (sad, yes) They are not for the faint of heart, no saleshelp, and you have to dig but some of the same stuff that's in Barney's and the like will be there.

This week Bluefly is having its first ever sample sale...there is usually one going on but depends on when you will be here. When you strike at one that is good you can walk away with a steal (Helmut Lang, Prada, Loro Piana, Malo, Hugo Boss, Theory - have all had one in the past few months).

It depends what you're looking for, I should think and where you'll be. Â There are enough places to really spend an entire week doing nothing but shopping. Â It doesn't sound like you have the time or money. Â What you've already listed could easily be a plate. Â A very brief rundown of Uptown. Â Generally, the big glamor chains are on Fifth Ave. between 48th and 59th (Saks to Bergdorfs) -- Gucci, Prada, etc. with some tourist fluff thrown in. Â 57th between Park and Fifth has a lot of the higher end labels -- Jil Sander, Burberry, Turnbull & Asser, a Brioni, Oxxford, etc. Â Madison between 59th and about 80th has a lot of known upper end boutiques -- Etro, Lobb, Ralph Lauren, YSL, etc. Downtown you have Soho, which has become very upper-end chain oriented (Prada, D&G, etc.) and some outlier neighborhoods with very nice shopping Nolita options (Seize sur Vingt), West Village (Marc Jacobs), Chelsea (Camouflage, Paul Smith, etc.) Â Keep in mind, this is very, very rough. Â If I were you, I'd either pick a handful you really want to see (say, the big dept. stores or the really high end stuff -- Borrelli, Lobb, Hermes, or the fun street stuff). Â Otherwise, you might be overwhelmed. Â Frankly, just try to have a good time and try to make it to some of the great spots in the City. A sample sale is traditionally a sale of the samples that a designer or clothing producer makes. Â A quick reference for that is either Time Out New York or New York Magazine. Â The link to New York Mag's webpage on this is: http://www.nymetro.com/shopping/articles/sb/index.htm Finding a real sample sale can be a great bargain, but a nightmare (crowded, expensive, no service, etc.) Â Unless you see some brand you know and like, it's not worth your limited time. Finally, I'm attaching a thread from modernman.com that responded to a similar request. Â You'll see that this particular thread was focused on high end, but that can be of help. Â The advice in it is very comprehensive. http://www.modernman.com/forums/DCForumID3/2182.html

I'll be staying at the Marriot Grand Marquis...right in the middle of it all. I'll be getting there late night Thursday and leaving sometime Sunday. The sole purpose is basically to look around...but who knows what can happen.

I'd almost take offense mr. magoo in regards to your comment about my finances and the sort...but Im play like I didn't read it. =] However, you know very little of my finances and what I am capable of spending/saving. I did come across as the broke college student that I am, but hey we all need to start somewhere and you guys are the folks I turned to.

Thanks fellas.
I guess I simply wanted to do the most with what *yes you are right* limited time I have...and avoid the running around aimlessly through the streets.

i was in NYC in october 2002, and missed a couple of key places i wanted to see. here's my list of must see stores:

- Bergdorf Goodman, across the street from the Plaza. wow. at least buy a REAL HANDMADE Marinella necktie, which i you can only purchase from this and possibly 2 other locations in the USA.

- Saks fifth Ave, 6th floor mens. the wood paneled walls and vintage 1930s Esquire prints you see when you exit the elevator make it worthwhile. liked seeing large floorspace dedicated to Oxxford, Brioni, Zegna, etc.

- Alan Flusser store. this wasn't open yet, but maybe you could visit and report back to the forum on this one???

- Luigi Borrelli store. didn't make it to this one, mostly because the other stores had a fair amt of this label.

- Turnbull and Asser- didn't find time to see this one, but should have.

well, that's my two cents. we skipped the Palm Court breakfasts in favor of Dean and DeLuca early every morning. wish i would have made res. at the Oak Room for dinner, but really enjoyed Le Cirque instead.

I'd almost take offense mr. magoo in regards to your comment about my finances and the sort...but Im play like I didn't read it. =] Â However, you know very little of my finances and what I am capable of spending/saving. Â I did come across as the broke college student that I am, but hey we all need to start somewhere and you guys are the folks I turned to. Â

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I apologize for not assuming you can go crazy at Vacca.

It might help if you could explain what you're looking for or are into. If you're just generally looking around the City, then have a great time.

Finally, I'm attaching a thread from modernman.com that responded to a similar request. Â You'll see that this particular thread was focused on high end, but that can be of help. Â The advice in it is very comprehensive. http://www.modernman.com/forums/DCForumID3/2182.html

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That's a great thread. Still haven't visited Flusser's store, I hear that the shoes there are Edward Green on specially made lasts just for the store.

I just came back from Bergdorfs and Barney's (for my own purposes, not to post) and I have to say that if you're looking for top end, Bergdorf's is a must. They've redecorated and revamped and the lines are almost uniformly beautiful. Some guy was complaining about the cost of shirts and a salesman told him to try Barneys or Saks for something less expensive. I'd have to concur.

Some guy was complaining about the cost of shirts and a salesman told him to try Barneys or Saks for something less expensive.

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He should have sent him to Salvation Army. Â This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Â Why would you walk into Bergdorf's and then complain that things are expensive? Â It's like walking into a 99 cent store and complainig that nothing costs more than a dollar. Now, I don't mean to say that everything in there is worth what they charge (I mean, when you're sending people to Barney's for cheaper clothes, your clothes are expensive), nor that there aren't perfectly nice clothes elsewhere. Â But they charge what they charge because people pay that price for them. Â Don't complain, just don't buy it.

Bergdorf Goodman is THE place to buy in Manhattan. It has earned its reputation for a reason. Price and value are always a factor, but for those who aren't willing to pay more for the highest quality, there are alternatives.